Pivot joint assembly for vehicle steering and suspension systems
AssigneeFederal-Mogul Motorparts LLC
InventorsGlen C. Parker, Eric M. Kopsie
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The pivot joint assembly includes a housing with an inner wall that surrounds an inner bore which extends along a central axis. A stud is partially received in the inner bore, projects out of one axial end of the housing and is rotatable relative to the housing about the central axis. A sealing body, which is made of a single piece of a semi-rigid material, is in a static sealing condition with the housing and is in a dynamic sealing condition with the stud. The sealing body includes a portion which extends at an acute angle relative to the central axis to contact the stud such that the portion is deflectable to allow lubricant to escape the inner bore during greasing.
Claims17
A pivot joint assembly, comprising:
- a housing with an inner wall that surrounds an inner bore which extends along a central axis;
- a stud that is partially received in said inner bore and projects out of one end of said housing and is rotatable relative to said housing about said central axis;
- and
- a sealing body made of a single piece of a material, said sealing body being in a static sealing condition with said housing and in a dynamic sealing condition with said stud, and said sealing body including a portion which extends at an acute angle relative to said central axis to contact said stud such that said portion is deflectable to allow lubricant to escape said inner bore during greasing;
- and
- wherein said portion of said sealing body that contacts said stud has a constant shape three hundred and sixty degrees around said central axis.
A method of making a pivot joint assembly, comprising the steps of:
- preparing a housing with an inner wall that surrounds an inner bore which extends along a central axis;
- inserting at least a portion of a sealing body that is made of a single piece of a material into the inner bore;
- inserting a stud into the inner bore of the housing and supporting the stud such that the stud is rotatable relative to the housing about the central axis;
- establishing a static sealing condition between the sealing body and the housing;
- establishing a dynamic sealing condition between a portion of the sealing body which extends at an acute angle relative to the central axis and the stud and whereby the portion of the sealing body has a constant shape three hundred and sixty degrees around the central axis;
- injecting a lubricant into the inner bore of the housing;
- and
- resiliently deflecting the portion of the sealing body to allow excess lubricant to escape the inner bore.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.